 Editor’s Note


Hello and welcome to the October issue of Converter magazine. Whether or not you’re embracing the changing seasons, it has become very clear over the last few weeks that autumn is truly upon us. Big knitted jumpers are gratefully


pulled on, long-abandoned boots and scarves are sourced from the backs of wardrobes and the ground is awash with crunchy orange and yellow leaves. Personally, I delight in the change, as indeed our industry too seems to revel in disruptive technology and the changing trends they bring. The recent influx of packaging tradeshows specialising in innovation and future technology also reflects this continued demand for the next big thing. It’s almost insatiable. Yet fear not, for Converter has got you covered, with all the latest and greatest packaging news from around the globe. We’ve got fantastic features brim-filled with facts, ideas and top tips


for success, covering everything from Shrink Sleeve Solutions to Ink & Ink Dispensers. We explore the newest technologies using UV, and get to grips with the industry’s efforts into Sustainable Converting. As ever, if you’d like to write an editorial article for the magazine,


on any given subject in the industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by emailing nmarriott@datateam.co.uk. This is your industry and I’d like to offer you a platform to speak and share ideas, opinions and advice that can benefit all, and ensure the continued and sustainable growth of our marketplace.


Niamh Marriott Editor nmarriott@datateam.co.uk


Mondi, Werner & Mertz partner on fully recyclable StripPouch that supports a circular economy


Mondi’s four-year effort with a customer, German cleaning products maker Werner & Mertz, to develop a fully recyclable, flexible, stand-up pouch for W&M’s Frosch-brand laundry detergent is paying dividends. The project applied Cradle to Cradle (or C2C) principles to assess every aspect of the product, from design to optimal end-of-life options, to close the packaging loop. The resulting product, called StripPouch, recently earned certification from


two independent bodies for being 100 per cent recyclable, and has been honoured with several industry awards. The product’s first commercial application of Werner & Mertz’s Frosch-brand liquid detergents, is anticipated to be on store shelves by the end of this year. ”Werner & Mertz gave us a challenge to come up with a fully recyclable packaging solution. We embraced this and by applying our EcoSolutions approach, we have both met the challenge and been recognised for our industry effort. Now, applying the knowledge gained from developing StripPouch, others also stand to benefit from Mondi’s approach to being sustainable by design,” said Jens Kosters, manager of technical services for Mondi consumer goods packaging. The two independent bodies who have certified that the pouch is 100 per


cent recyclable are: The institut cyclos-HTP (the Institute for Recyclability and Product Responsibility) and Cologne-based environmental services company Interseroh, with the StripPouch being deemed to be a “fully optimised sustainable design.”


convertermag.com


Mark of quality for food sector sealing materials


Now available from Dichtomatik Ltd, the authorised UK distributor of food and beverage related products manufactured by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, come two sealing materials with high purity levels that are ideal for food industry


applications, as well as those in the pharmaceutical sector. In fact, these advanced Freudenberg silicone elastomers - 70 VMQ 117055 and 60 VMQ 117117 - have just achieved compliance with two important food industry regulations in China, adding to a host of existing certifications applicable in the EU and US. When it comes to food, everyone wants to be sure that it is free of


harmful substances. In order to guarantee safety, not only the food, but the materials with which it contacts, must meet particularly stringent criteria, a statement that also applies to sealing materials. Freudenberg VMQ series materials are highly suitable for use in


food plants, particularly if the application has extreme thermal requirements (-50°C to +200°C) and cleaning processes that do not rely on steam sterilisation. A good application example for 70 VMQ 117055 is dairy operations,


which frequently use the material to manufacture O-rings as the high fat content of the process media must be taken into consideration. Freudenberg 70 VMQ 117055 is resistant to animal, ethereous and plant fats/oils.


October 2019 5


Industry News 


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